Blog

4 Affordable Fibromyalgia Treatments

It’s difficult to live with fibromyalgia for a variety of reasons. As any spoonie knows, physically and socially navigating invisible illness is not for the faint of heart. We’ve talked in the past about everything fibro-related from accompanying medical conditions to bolstering your immune system. But one of the things we haven’t talked about is something that society as a whole tends to shy away from: finances!

Chronic pain management can be expensive, which adds an entirely new element of stress. Here are ten fibromyalgia treatment tips that won’t break the bank.

#1 – Vitamins

Let’s start with the basics!

Any fibro warrior needs to bring “weapons” into battle, and vitamins are a great addition to eating healthily and exercising. Flooding your body with the nutrients it needs provides a firm foundation for fighting this condition.

Plus, what could be easier? Even when you’re not feeling well enough to put together a fresh salad or fruit plate, you can still pop a quality multivitamin.

Vitamin D

This surprisingly common deficiency can be alleviated by a simple and affordable D3 supplement. That being said, it’s important to not overdo it. This fat soluble vitamin stays in the body longer, so excess amounts can potentially harm you. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, make sure you’re not taking a multivitamin with D3 and an additional D3 supplement.

We recommend getting tested by your doctor and asking his or her recommendations on the best specific vitamins and dosages for you.

#2 – Magnesium

Speaking of deficiencies, some experts estimate that up to 80% of Americans are magnesium deficient!

Not only is it crucial to make sure you’re NOT in that category for overall health reasons, it can also help with fibromyalgia symptoms such as:

IBS

Insomnia and poor sleep

Pain

Restless legs

Magnesium supplements don’t cost much. They typically run anywhere from $4 to $20-something, depending on what brand you choose. Your healthcare provider can make the best recommendations for you!

Magnesium also comes in a topical lotion that can be rubbed on sore muscles or burning feet, as well as in Epsom Salt form. The latter pairs perfectly with a hot bath, which brings us to our next tip…

#3 – Heat, Heat, and More Heat

When life gets hectic, it can be easy to forget this one.

But when it comes to keeping fibromyalgia flare-ups at bay, this prevention strategy deserves the extra 30 seconds it takes to grab an extra sweater or the extra 30 minutes it takes to enjoy a hot bath. Those two things aren’t just affordable; they’re free!

There some other great heat therapy options that aren’t completely free but also won’t break the bank.

They include:

Beanie hats

Fingerless gloves

Heating pads

Microwavable heating pads

Electric blankets are a little less affordable, but can sometimes be found on sale for as little as $40. They are a great longterm fibro-fighting investment!

#4 – Over-the-Counter and Natural Painkillers

Needless to say, a painkiller can be a spoonie’s best friend!

Some FM patients have a prescription for a certain type of painkiller, but the affordability of that tip depends on your insurance.

However, it’s important not to underestimate how effective some over-the-counter options can be when a flare-up strikes. They can:

Fight inflammation

Help you rest or sleep

Reduce muscle aches

Some of the top recommended over-the-counter fibromyalgia pain relievers include:

Aspirin

Ibuprofen

Naproxen sodium

There are also a plethora of natural or herbal remedies that have been known to help with certain fibromyalgia symptoms. They include:

5-HTP for depression/moodiness and insomnia

Curcumin for inflammation

D-ribose for fatigue and other symptoms

Digestive Enzymes for gut problems

Emergen-C for fatigue

GABA for insomnia and sleep problems

Glycine for insomnia and sleep problems

Remember, not all of these should be taken at once, and some may interact negatively with other medications. For example, if you are on antidepressants, you should not take 5-HTP.

Even though everything above is affordable (most painkillers and supplements listed are less than $20!) and can be bought without a prescription, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily right for you. As always, it’s best to ask your doctor what is safe. Then, you can experiment a little and see which of his or her approved products fight your FM symptoms most effectively!

Conclusion

One of the many burdens that comes with chronic pain is the cost. Between doctor’s visits, missed work, and perhaps expenses like hiring a babysitter during an especially bad flare-up, the money lost to fibromyalgia definitely adds another dimension to the condition’s hardships. We hope that you found these suggestions helpful, and that they will ease both your physical and financial pain!

Here at Achieve, we are working hard to find better fibromyalgia treatments and one day make this debilitating illness a thing of the past. If you would like to be part of this progress, you may want to consider enrolling in a fibromyalgia clinical trial here at our Birmingham area office.

You would receive all medical care and treatments free of charge– talk about affordable! If you would like to know more, please fill out the quick form on the right of this page or give us a ring at (205) 757-8208.